Affront to Bengal’s dignity: CM on NITI’s map goof-up | Kolkata News – Times of India

Kolkata: A NITI Aayog summary report on Bengal, showing a map of Bihar instead of the state on the cover page, prompted CM Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday to write a strongly worded letter to its vice-chairman, Suman K Bery, demanding an immediate “clarification and apology”.“I am writing with deep concern and unequivocal disapproval that in the ‘Summary Report for the State of West Bengal’, published by NITI Aayog and available on its website… the map intended to represent the state of West Bengal has depicted the territory of Bihar in its place,” the CM wrote.Later in the day, the page was no longer available.Banerjee said in her letter: “Such a grave lapse in an official document of a premier national institution is not merely a technical error but an affront to the identity and dignity of the state of West Bengal. Such a blunder in an official publication of NITI Aayog reflects an alarming lack of diligence and respect towards the States of the Union.”Such representations “raise legitimate concerns about the rigour and reliability of the institution’s work, which policymakers and citizens alike depend upon for accurate and informed decision-making, and cast significant doubt on the quality, authenticity, and credibility of reports and publications of NITI Aayog,” she wrote.“The govt of West Bengal strongly condemns this inaccuracy and calls upon NITI Aayog to issue a clarification and apology and take immediate corrective action to rectify the document and to institute robust mechanisms to prevent such lapses in future,” Banerjee added.Trinamool spokesperson Saket Gokhale also took to X to say it was “pathetic” that the Centre couldn’t even place Bengal on an India map. Gokhale pointed out that BJP had 12 Lok Sabha MPs from Bengal, including two junior Union ministers, but “shamelessly” showed Bihar as Bengal on a map.Linking this with the issues, including NRC, that have pitted Trinamool govt against the Centre, Gokhale said: “BJP has been targeting and harassing Bengalis in every state ruled by them. CM Mamata Banerjee has also exposed how the Modi govt wants to impose NRC in Bengal out of fear of losing elections.”Trinamool Congress posted on X: “We demand that NITI Aayog issue a formal clarification, offer an unconditional apology, take immediate corrective steps to rectify the document, and establish strong quality control mechanisms to prevent such egregious lapses in the future.”